Stock feeding block



Dec. 12, 1939. G. A. WALTER' 2,183,437

STOCK FEEDING BLOCK Filed March 22, 1939 Patented Dec. 12, 1939 are;

3 Claims.

This invention relates to stock feeding blocks and in particular to the provision in stock feeding blocks of indicia bearing means.

It is an object of this invention to provide in stock feeding blocks, means for supporting indicia bearing members in such'ma'nner thatthe indicia bearing members shall be recessed therein or spaced inwardly of adjacent exterior surfaces of the block whereby it is entirely unaffected by '10 friction between blocks in transit or in storage.

It is a further object of this invention to provide, in stock feeding blocks, means formechanically supporting indicia bearing members such manner as totally to obviate the necessity for the use of glue or other adhesive means to secure the attachment of the indicia "bearing members to the block, whereby the secure attachment ofthe member and blockshall .b'e totallyunaf fected by deli-quescence, or absorption .of' moisture, by the feeding block.

It is a further object of this invention to pro vide a method of manufacture of such feeding blocks wherein the means for supporting the indicia bearing members isformed integrally with the block, and wherein the indicia bearing means isformed simultaneously with compression of the constituent material forming the highly compressed stock feeding block.

These and other objects and advantages'of the invention will appear from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing which forms a part thereof.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a View in perspective of a stock feeding block according to this invention, as seen from the bottom side thereof;

Fig. 2 is a section taken on the plane indicated by the line 2-2 of Fig. 1. showing the indicia bearing member detached from the block;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary enlarged view of the' structure shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3, but showing the indicia bearing membersecured to the block; Fig. 5 is a view similar ,to Fig- 2 of a modified form of feeding block according to this invention;

Fig. 6 is a View, similar ture shown in Fig. 5; and

Fig. '7 is a view-similar to ture shown in Fig.5. 1 I

Referring to the drawing in'detail and .with reference particularly toFigs. 1 to 4, inclusive, itwill be seen that the illustrated stock feeding block is substantially cubical. I Thefeeding block may be formed of any suitable known, and de-- sired, material such as salt, either medicated or' I or other projection to to Fig. 3, of the struc? Fig. 4, ofthe struc- 7 plain or any other known-mineral, nutritious or medicinal material which is highly compressed to form a relatively hard block of crystalline material. In the drawing, the block is generally desig- "5 hated l. The top or upper surface thereof is designated 2; the side surfaces are designated 3; and the bottom or lower surface is designated 4; At least two of the side surfaces 3 are provided with hand-hole means 5 comprising recesses adapted for manual engagement to facilitate lifting and transportation of the block I. As shown, the hand-hole means is formed as a recessed H. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the indicia bearing member is in the form of a fiat, resilient or bendable. disk formed of any suitable material such as cardboard, metal, Celluloid or the like and is optionally provided with a centrally arranged aperture 8 into which a finger may be inserted to facilitate attachment and detachment of the'indicia bearing member 1 to the block I. In orderto accommodate the indicia bearing member "i, one surface of the block i, and preferably the bottom surface as shownin the drawing, is provided with undercut recess means r25 comprising an annular groove 9 having a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of the indicia bearing member 1 and having a width substantially equalto the thickness of the indicia bearing member 7. Communicating with this groove s from the exterior surface of the block is a bevelled annular wall it. Leading inwardly from the groove 9 into the interior of the block I is a stake hole in the form of a .frusto-conical recess l i which is-adapted to receive a pin, stake, i 35 v prevent overturning of the block by stock, When'in use.

The junction of this stake hole it with the grooves forms an annular flat surface l2 which is adapted for close engagement with the inner 4 surface of the indicia bearing member 'l as shown in Fig. 4. The groove J9 and bevelled surface It] form, at their junction, an annular shoulder M which retains the indicia bearing'member l in the groove 9 because the diameter of the indicia bearing member 7 is greater than the diameter of the annular shoulder M.

In the form illustrated. in Figs. 1 to 4, the indicia bearing member 'l,'in addition to performing an indicia bearing function, also substantiallyprevents theentry of foreign material "into the stake hole ll. This exclusion of foreign material is complete where the aperture 8 is omitted from the member 'I', as shown in Figs. 5 and 7. I

The block I is formed by placing in a suitable mold the desired constituent material to which extreme pressure is applied in known manner. In order to form the undercut annular groove 9, the mold may be provided with a suitable collapsible ring member, which is expanded by pressure during the molding operation, and which collapses upon release of pressure in order that it may be removed from the formed groove ,serted in the aperture Alternatively, the groove 9 may be omitted from the block when pressed, and thereafter formed in the block by a turning operation.

While it is preferred that the indicia bearin member I and the annular undercut groove 9 be of circular form, it is, nevertheless, contemplated that they may be of rectangular or other noncircular form.

In order that the stock block be prepared for shipment and storage, the formed block is provided with indicia bearing members 1 having thereon suitable indicia or information such as the makers name, the composition, thereof and the trade mark or name under which it is sold. As shown in Fig. 2, the diameter of the indicia bearing member I is such as to prevent its insertion into the annular groove 9 freely over the annular shoulder Hi. In order that this shall be accomplished, the member I is bent, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 2 and edge portions thereof are inserted into the annular groove 9. Thereafter, by the application of pressure, the indicia bearing member i is snapped into seated posithereof is in nowise affected by moisture conditions in the block I. I

When it is desired to prepare the block I for use, it is merely necessary, that a finger be in- 8 of the member I, when such aperture is provided, and that the member I be drawn outwardly over the retaining shoulder l4 in order to free the stake hole ll whereby the block may be set over a suitable retaining pin, stake or projection, for use.

In the modification illustrated in Figs. 5 to '7, inclusive, the stake hole II is omitted. The annular groove 9 thus terminates inwardly in a cir cular flat surface l2a. The block, which is designated la, is otherwise similar to the block of Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, save for the omission of the optional hand-hole means 5. Like portions of the embodiments illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4 and in Figs. 5 to '7, inclusive, are indicated by like reference characters.

In the form of indicia bearing member 1 illustrated in Fig. 5, the aperture 8 of the form of Figs. 1 to 4 is eliminated. However, it is to be understood that either form of indicia bearing member may be used the invention and that it is preferable, in some cases, that the form of indicia bearing member of Figs. 5 to '7 be used with the form of stock feeding block illustrated in Fig. l. The stock feeding block of Figs. 5 to '7 inclusive is formed in the same manner as is the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4, the groove 9 being formed in the block lw either during the pressing operation or thereafter, as described above.

While I have illustrated the application of the indicia bearing member to the bottom surface of in either embodiment of the stock feeding block, it is, of course, to be understood that it may be applied to any surface thereof, as desired. For instance, in the form illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4, it may be desirable to form the supporting means for the indicia bearing member 1 in one or more of the side surfaces, or the top surface of the block, in which event it shall be totally independent of the stake hole II. In any case, the indicia bearing member I is mechanically attached to the stock feeding block in such manner that the attachment thereof is totally unaffected by the absorption of moisture by the block, while detachment of the indicia bearing member i or defacement thereof, due to friction in transit, in storage, or in handling, is

totally prevented.

It is, of course, to be understood that the above described structure is merely illustrative and in nowise limiting and that I desire to comprehend within my invention such modifications as are included within the scope of the appended claims and the invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a stock feeding block, a block of granular material having a flat surface, a stake hole adapted to receive a supporting stake extending inwardly from said fiat surface, groove means disposed adjacent and inwardly of said flat surface and communicating with said stake hole, and a flat indicia bearing member having snap fit engagement with said groove means and supported thereby inwardly of and adjacent said flat surface, the end of said supporting stake, in normal use, extending inwardly in said stake hole past said groove means.

2. In a stock feeding block, a block of granular material having a flat surface, a stake hole adapted to receive a supporting stake extending inwardly from said flat surface, groove means disposed adjacent and inwardly of said flat surface and communicating with said stake hole, and a flat indicia bearing member having snap fit engagement with said groove means and supported thereby inwardly of and adjacent said flat surface, the end of said supporting stake, in normal use, extending inwardly in said stake hole past said groove, said indicia bearing member being provided with aperture means facilitating attachment of said indicia bearing means to said block and removal therefrom by insertion of a finger in said aperture. 7

3. A stock feeding block of granular material having a flat surface, a stake hole adapted to receive a supporting stake comprising a frustoconical recess extending inwardly from said flat surface, and means for supporting a flat indicia bearing member adjacent and inwardly of said flat surface comprising an annular groove spaced inwardly of said flat surface and having a diameter substantially equivalent to the indicia bearing member, the end of said supporting stake, in normal use, extending inwardly in said stake hole past said groove, a fiat annular supporting surface between said annular groove and said stake hole, and an annular shoulder disposed outwardly of said annular groove and communicating with said first named flat surface by means of an annular bevelled surface.

GEORGE A. WALTER. 

